Acceleration Times & Test Conditions

Trophy 1903 CC Line Drawing

A nice combination at an affordable price. Its wide beam and thoughtful layout make the Trophy 1903 a more fishable boat than many larger boats in a compact package, that's also affordable and economical.

Enough seating for all your anglers. The center console is situated a bit farther forward than I’ve found on many boats, with good elbowroom in front of and behind the center console.

Everything is within easy reach of the driver. The leaning post also includes storage compartments, a small tackle center, and a selector valve that allows the bait well pump to double as a salt water washdown pump.

Store your catch of the day here. Other fishing amenities include a large fishbox forward where it is easy to throw in a big fish without obstruction, rod holders, and under gunnel rod storage. The rod storage system uses fiberglass t

Captain's Report

Spacious Layout in a Compact PackageTested by Capt. Vince DanielloWhen I received the assignment to test Trophy’s 1903 Center Console, I wasn’t sure what to expect. While I had heard good things about the company, I have not been aboard a Trophy in quite a while. What I found was a surprisingly roomy nineteen-footer with several pleasant surprises that left me wishing I brought fishing tackle instead of test gear. Layout and FeaturesWith a beam over eight feet, it is easy to see where the extra room comes from, but Trophy did an outstanding job utilizing the space for fishing. The center console is situated a bit farther forward than I’ve found on many boats, with good elbowroom in front of and behind the center console. This also gave Trophy room for a leaning-post style seat, with an easy access live bait well built in aft. Many manufacturers hide the bait well in the transom, including most large sportfishing boat builders. But walk down the charter dock at any active sportfishing marina when the sailfish are in, and you’ll find that most boats have removable bait wells by the fighting chair or rocket launcher, right in the middle of the cockpit. That’s because the pros want their bait instantly accessible without disturbing the anglers when the second or third fish comes up. The leaning post also includes storage compartments, a small tackle center, and a selector valve that allows the bait well pump to double as a salt water washdown pump. Standard Fishing AmenitiesOther fishing amenities include a large fishbox forward where it is easy to throw in a big fish without obstruction, rod holders, and under gunnel rod storage. The rod storage system uses fiberglass tubes to hold the top of the rods. This allows fast storage and retrieval of the rods without fear of damaging the guides (I’ve seen many broken guides from traditional rod racks), but the tubes on the Trophy may be too narrow to fit the bottom guide of some large spinning rods. Check if your tackle will fit if this is an important consideration.Comfort and Easy Clean UpWhile I like the additions from Trophy to make the boat more fishable, I also appreciate something that doesn’t have to be on the boat all the time – cushions. The two aft seat cushions, cooler cushion and backrest, and forward deck pad are all easily removed for storage out of the weather, which significantly increases their life. They can also be left at home when its time for hardcore fishing, leaving fewer things to clean blood and fish scales from in the evening. The Igloo cooler, which secures in front of the console to form a seat, can also be removed for storage, cleaning, or provisioning.As a professional captain in South Florida I have the opportunity to run some exceptional fishing machines. While I frequently fish center consoles, they are usually at least in the mid-twenty-foot range to allow room for a decent baitwell and space to fish. But with its wide beam and thoughtful layout the Trophy 1903 is more fishable than many larger boats in a compact package that’s affordable, economical, and a lot quicker to wash at the end of the day.

Test Result Highlights

Best cruise for the Trophy 1903 CC is 32.1 mph (51.7 kph), and the boat gets 3.57 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.52 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 177 miles (284.85 kilometers).